Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce may be building toward a second act just as lucrative as the one he’s living now.
The action isn’t on the field this time. It’s in the rapidly shifting world of NFL broadcasting, where former players are landing massive contracts and a few of the biggest jobs are suddenly open.
It started with news that former CBS lead analyst Tony Romo, once the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, would be leaving the network after an incident that allegedly involved alcohol before the season in Wisconsin. That move created a vacancy, and former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman now appears to be a candidate to fill it when he leaves CBS, according to rumors that have circulated for several days.
Another major opening is also taking shape. Former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olson is apparently heading out at Fox, which would leave top spots available at CBS, ESPN and Prime Video.
The Prime Video position is the one drawing the most attention. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and others have reported that Kirk Herbstreit has already signed a contract extension that functions more like a placeholder until Amazon can see who else becomes available.
That’s where Kelce enters the picture. The Chiefs star is having an excellent season, but the source material frames this as almost certainly his last go-round. Florio has reported that Kelce has been “sniffing around” the Prime Video opening.
The fit is obvious enough. Kelce already appears semi-weekly with his brother, former offensive lineman Jason Kelce, on their New Heights podcast, where the two talk football and celebrity. That kind of easy, natural on-air presence makes him a strong candidate for broadcasting work once his playing days are over.
And while Kelce won’t be short on money, another high-paying role would still make sense when he hangs up his cleats.
There’s also another factor networks can’t ignore: his recent wedding to pop star Taylor Swift. Her appearances in a private box at Chiefs home games have helped drive huge ratings, and any network would love even an indirect tie to the billionaire pop star.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman Legend Bey Suddenly Has A Real Chance To Earn Trust
Ohio State heads into its matchup with Indiana with the backfield thinned out and the rotation suddenly looking much different than it did a week ago. Ja'Kobi Jackson has been ruled out with an injury, Isaiah West is questionable, and the Buckeyes are also dealing with Austin Siereveld being sidelined, which only adds to the strain on offensive line depth.
For Legend Bey, the timing creates a real opening to do more than just flash in limited duty. The freshman is now positioned for a bigger workload if the Buckeyes need it, and those are the kinds of snaps that can quickly build trust with a coaching staff looking for dependable answers as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces A Defining Indiana Test Ryan Day Can't Shrug Off
The next meeting between Ohio State and Indiana carries more weight than a typical early-season checkpoint. The Buckeyes and Hoosiers have split their two previous matchups, and what has happened around Indiana since then has changed the tenor of the series. A program that was once easy to overlook has turned itself into something much harder to dismiss, giving this matchup a sharper edge than anyone would have expected a few years ago.
For Ohio State, this is the kind of game that can shape how the rest of the season is viewed. With College Football Playoff positioning in the background, the third game in the series feels like more than just another Big Ten date on the schedule. Ryan Day cannot afford to treat it lightly, because the stakes now go well beyond pride and the record between these two teams. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Closing Stretch Could Mean Everything For Indianas Big Ten Hopes
USCs final five games now carry real weight well beyond its own postseason hopes, with a closing stretch that includes ranked opponents and a direct impact on the Big Ten race. The Trojans have Ohio State, Indiana and UCLA among the matchups left on the schedule, a run that could reshape the conference standings as much as it says about USCs place in the playoff conversation.
For Indiana, that makes the trip through USCs late-season gauntlet especially important, because the Hoosiers Big Ten hopes may hinge on how the Trojans handle the Buckeyes and the rest of that closing slate. The schedule also adds another layer to Ohio States path, since each of those games helps define the broader league picture before the committee ever gets involved. [Read more 🡒]